The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-08-03

iio's' anu by ana by spread out and ,
across the heavens; the soft, II
breeze from over the waters change
Its song to moaning, and rose and ros
with the rising cloud till it wakene
the waves and the wild storm spirits
battle with the beach; the birc
swarmed over the Jagged rock
screaming defiance to the elements
Jean" Adelaide Elwood said to he
sister, as the clouds conquered til
struggling sunbeams, and the black
ness settled over sea and sky, "let's y
go out together and watch the stor,
rise; we have had no such chance he
forer' ~
AS they stood on the cliff with tb
winds around them, watching the flee
ing clouds and tumbling breaker
white with foam from the ragged REQ
beyond, Adelaide suddenly uttered ,
cry of fear and pressed nearer III,
dangerous edge.
"What is it?" shouted Jean in nm
.i''.uie Terror struggling to hel
sister S side with the gusty wind beat.
ing in her face.
And for reply Adelaide pointed to
the sands below, along which the
maddened breakers were leaning
nearer and nearer to the foot of the cliff
as the tide came in.
And there, with the cliffs and the
waves hemming her in, jimmie Blake
the fisher wife's pride and DARLING
cronched on the frowning rock around
winch the waves We're leaping, her
brown face whitened by terror, her
bare feet cut on the rocks.
Then. with sudden qui~.
her sister, oe'"''e turned TO
VIM S''0; she shouted above the mad
Us and the laundering waves
eean' the men are out but the women
are In. Send Jack for them while 7
ma a rope, then come back with mer'
Inc younger girl obeyed, not com.
prenendlng her sisters intention, and
the errands were done.
As the women, leaving their unfin-
lsned nets fastened up in reply to the
message, Adelaide. with delft fingers
the coil of rope around her
waist, and secured The other end about
I strong. stunted tree near. calling to
ler sister to assist her. that they might !
'e ready when the women came.
"Adelaide, Adclaitlcr' cried :Je,,
earthly, pressing close to her listers |
iqe, her face raised excitedly TO hers
While full Knowledge of what the
ther was about to undertake. flashed
ITO her mind, you must not 60 down
y that-you shall not 90 down, / say!
Vhat Is that child to us that YOU should
lsk your beautiful life for hers? You
nall not go-you shall not 90, | tell
ou!" 81
Jean" the dark eyes were hashjno
lth her noble spirit. jean, you know
ot what you are saying! 1t is only
lat you fear for me. Surely if the
MD is nothing to us, what is she to
II mother? Be quiet, dear, and help |
G! Quick, the minutes are prec-
usr'
Jean grew desperate. "Adefaide,
teiaide! if you go what will become
me!' she cried. "Let the child 90! +.
hat is she to you or me that YOU /,
ouid throw away your lifep' 6
adelaide turned to her with q slow, !
ave smile.
JEAN she said, edo what Won 7
q to your hand,'" mother always i
d, beyond that is God2'" =
And Jean dared not answer, and the ~
men were ready.
Their hands were hardened to ronob !,
or and steady, with prayers in .
III hearts, they let out the rope ~
ger over the ragged, perilous edge, 81
terrified child waiting below, the Il
ngry waves leaping around her. h
he rough winds whirled around the n
gong down the face of the cliff Il
sing her loosened hair, tearing at 81
garments, shrieking in her ears of
dread out yonder at the edge of the tn
ged reef. VI
can hands were cut deep by the m
e, but she was unconscious of it as cb
worked with the toil-worn fish =,
es, forgetting all but the lives be- r.
ut the iightnings touched the .
Vens with fire beyond the veil of ~
, and the thunders mingled with ", ~,
thunderous breakers in vain en- ~ ~"
Tor to discourage The girl. for. To-! t n
ne white-toothed monsters leaped W.;
last ledge of rocks and dashed up ~
frowning cliff, Adelaide Elwood u;o
ng up the cliff with jimmie Blake in ~
slender arms! viz
nd to-day there is not fish wife on W. Wv
beach or in its vicinity, who will w;
lay aside her slender needle and ' .ln
OF rope any time to tell you of b rT
m wimmen" who came to them ~, ~
the outside world and learned 81.
lay beneath the smiling surface w.
e sea, and how one saved little W
at the risk of her beautiful life,
the teeth of the wolf-breakers to
M 81 flo AAAo